For patients and caregivers, understanding clinical progression, diagnostic imaging results, and pharmacological treatment options is vital for managing acute and chronic health conditions.
The person walking into an emergency room with symptoms of pain, numbness and tingling in the left arm should be prepared for a series of tests to rule out a heart problem.
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A skin ulcer is a crater-like formation on the skin that is caused by any number of reasons, from an infection to cancer or inflammation, report doctors at the National Institutes of Health. Ulcers are sores that typically do not heal properly or keep returning. Ulcers may or may not cause pain.
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A blood pressure measurement contains two numbers. The top number is called the systolic blood pressure, which measures the pressure when the heart beats and pumps blood. The bottom number, or diastolic blood pressure, measures the pressure when the heart is at rest between beats.
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Just when it is time to unwind and give the legs a much-needed break, leg pain at night can ruin any plans for rest. Night leg pain is so common that it is difficult to meet a person who has not experienced total sleep disruption as a result. Men, women and children have experienced this phenomenon.
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The last stage of liver failure, cirrhosis, usually develops over a number of years-- although acute liver failure can occur. Cirrhosis can be compensated--meaning that the liver retains enough function to perform vital processes--or uncompensated, meaning that the liver can no longer carry out normal functions.
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Your pelvic floor muscles provides support for your visceral organs, which include the urinary bladder and the lower intestines, according to Anthony Carey, owner and co-founder of San Diego physical-therapy practice Function First. They also control your continence and, in women, assist in birth.
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Acid reflux is when stomach acid or bile flows back up into the esophagus, which can irritate the esophageal lining. Signs and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, include both acid reflux and heartburn and may also include chest pain and difficulty swallowing.
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Fever and nausea result from any number of infections including influenza, rotovirus, norovirus and astrovirus. In most cases, symptoms can be managed at home without prescription medications.
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Cartilage acts like a pad or cushion, protecting your bones at the joints during movement. In older adults and younger people who are very physically active, like athletes, cartilage may start to break down and become less cushiony over time.
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Thumb-sucking is a common habit among young children because it offers comfort and security. Many children begin sucking their thumb in utero and continue the habit through the infant and toddler years.
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Cigarette use is known to carry a risk of a wide range of health problems, but it is also problematic for patients with asthma. Although a specific allergy to cigarettes is not common, the smoke can irritate preexisting allergies and is especially dangerous for those with allergic asthma.
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Passing gas and belching are a normal part of your child's digestion, yet sometimes excess gas can cause bloating and discomfort. A non-critical case of gas will remedy itself; however, vomiting in combination with these symptoms is a cause for concern.
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Pita bread is flat, round bread that originated in Greece, and is commonly found in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean kitchens. Traditionally, the pita bread is made with wheat flour and yeast. Wheat flour is a major source of gluten, so most traditional pita bread made from wheat flour is not low in gluten.
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If you think about everything you use your fingers for, it should give you an indication of just how much pain and stiffness in the knuckle joints can affect your ability to go about day-to-day activities.
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For those with poor leg circulation, walking just one block can be a very daunting task. Poor leg circulation is caused by peripheral artery disease, a condition in which the arteries in your legs become narrowed or even blocked from fatty plaque buildup.
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High blood pressure, or hypertension, can lead to more serious problems if you do not address the issue early. Heart disease is a serious concern that can affect those afflicted with untreated hypertension.
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Selenium is a mineral that's essential to the body in trace amounts, mainly for synthesizing enzymes, but it can be toxic in large amounts.
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NSAIDs, short for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, are among the most commonly used medications in the United States. Available in prescription strength and over-the-counter, NSAIDs reduce inflammation and pain by interfering with your body's production of chemicals called prostaglandins.
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Muscle strains cause tiny tears in your muscle fibers. These injuries typically occur when a muscle is overstretched.
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The chemical dopamine is produced naturally in the body and functions as a neurotransmitter, playing a role in the pleasure and reward pathway of the brain as well as in memory and motor control.
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